Tag: Election results

Voting underway for bypolls to 7 seats in 6 states, first test for INDIA bloc

The bypolls are being seen as the first electoral contest between the recently formed Opposition bloc INDIA and the BJP-led NDA.

Polling for the bypolls in Ghosi, Dumri, Dhanpur, Boxanagar, Bageshwar, Dhupguri and Puthuppally began at 7am.

Polling for bypolls to seven Assembly constituencies across six states began today at 7 am (September 5) amid tight security arrangements in order to fill seats that have fallen vacant. The seven Assembly constituencies are Dumri in Jharkhand, Boxanagar and Dhanpur in Tripura, Ghosi in Uttar Pradesh, Bageshwar in Uttarakhand, Puthuppally in Kerala and Dhupguri in West Bengal.

The bypolls are being seen as the first electoral contest between the recently formed Opposition bloc INDIA and the BJP-led NDA. The counting of votes will be held on September 8.

Here’s why the seats are important:

Dhupguri, West Bengal

In 2021, the BJP won the Dhupguri Assembly seat with a narrow margin of 4300 votes. The party made its first momentous entry into the West Bengal Assembly in 2021 after winning 77 seats compared with just 3 in the previous election.

In Dhupguri, the BJP’s Bishnu Pada Ray defeated the Trinamool Congress’s Mitali Roy in 2021. The Dhupguri Assembly bypoll is being held in order to fill the seat following the death of BJP MLA Bishu Pada Ray.

The 2023 Dhupguri bypoll will see a three-way fight between the BJP, Trinamool Congress, and Congress-Left alliance.

The BJP has fielded Tapasi Roy, the widow of CRPF jawan Jagannath Roy, who laid down his life in the line of duty in Jammu and Kashmir in 2021. BJP has an edge as former TMC MLA Mitali Roy recently joined the party.

Against the BJP’s candidate, the TMC fielded a professor, Nirmal Chandra Roy, from the seat. The Congress has decided to extend support to the candidate of the CPI (M), Ishwar Chandra Roy, a teacher by profession.

With the Congress supporting the CPI(M) against the TMC, the bypoll will see a contest between INDIA bloc members.

Dhanpur and Boxanagar, Tripura

Unlike West Bengal, the Dhanpur and Boxanagar bypolls in Tripura will be one-on-one contests between CPI (M) and the ruling BJP. The Congress and the Tipra Motha have not fielded candidates in either of the seats, giving an edge to CPI (M).

Dhanpur is holding a bypoll since Union minister Pratima Bhoumik resigned as an MLA to retain her Lok Sabha seat. Dhanpur, once a strong bastion of the Left, will witness a contest between BJP’s Bindu Debnath and CPI (M)’s Koushik Chandra.

The Dhanpur assembly constituency, once considered a stronghold of the Left, will witness a fight between BJP’s Bindu Debnath and Kaushik Debnath of CPI(M). There are 50,346 eligible voters.

The BJP won the seat for the first time in the assembly poll held seven months ago.

In Boxanagar, the BJP has nominated Taffajal Hussain, who earlier lost to CPI (M) in the recently concluded Assembly elections.

Source: https://www.indiatoday.in/elections/story/election-bypolls-assembly-constituencies-voting-today-dumri-boxanagar-dhanpur-ghosi-bageshwar-puthuppally-dhupguri-2430993-2023-09-05

Ecuador leftist Gonzalez, businessman Noboa set to go to second round

Leftist candidate Luisa Gonzalez and surprise challenger, business scion Daniel Noboa, won the first round of Ecuador’s presidential election, beating out six rivals in a race clouded by the murder of anti-graft candidate Fernando Villavicencio.

Gonzalez, a protege of former President Rafael Correa who has promised to revive his social programs, was tallying 33% support, with more than 70% of ballot boxes counted, according to figures from the National Electoral Council.

“We are celebrating because we are making history, even though so many of us have been ignored, today we begin moving toward a different history,” Gonzalez told journalists and supporters at an event in southern Quito.

Former lawmaker Daniel Noboa, son of prominent banana businessman and former presidential candidate Alvaro Noboa, was a surprise second-place with 24% of the vote.

“The Ecuadorean people have won,” the 35-year-old Noboa told journalists in Guayaquil. “The youth candidate, of the people who are seeking hope, who want to change Ecuador, has triumphed.”

Noboa said he looked forward to a second round against Gonzalez, scheduled for Oct. 15.

Anti-corruption candidate Villavicencio, who was fatally shot as he left a campaign event earlier this month, was tallying 16%.

Villavicencio has been replaced by fellow investigative journalist Christian Zurita, but appeared on the ballot because they were printed before his murder. Zurita, along with several other candidates, conceded defeat on Sunday evening.

Candidates had pledged to fight sharp increases in crime, which the current government blames on drug gangs, and improve the struggling economy, whose woes have caused an uptick in unemployment and migration.

Security took center stage in the contest after Villavicencio’s killing. Other candidates have reported attacks against them, although in several cases police have said that the violence was not directed at the hopefuls themselves.

Gonzalez supporters gathering ahead of a speech by her said they wanted a return of Correa’s programs and better work opportunities.

“I feel that as a woman she will fight for the people,” said Fany Tarqui, 52, who brought her two daughters and their dog to the rally. “I want peace and sources of work.”

“Work is scarce for everyone, that’s why migration has gotten so high,” said retired teacher Wilson Lopez, 64.

Ecuadorian presidential candidate Luisa Gonzalez speaks during a presidential election night event, in Quito, Ecuador August 20, 2023. REUTERS/Karen Toro

Six suspects, all Colombians who police say belong to criminal gangs, were charged with Villavicencio’s murder and are being held in custody. Another suspect died from wounds sustained in a shootout with authorities.

CYBER ATTACKS
A webpage set up for some Ecuadoreans living abroad to cast their ballots suffered cyber attacks, the head of the national electoral council said, but the integrity of the vote was not affected by the issue.

The cyber attacks on the webpage for voters abroad were launched from India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Russia, Ukraine, Indonesia and China, said council president Diana Atamaint.

“The online platform suffered cyber attacks that affected the fluidity of access to voting. We clarify and emphasize that the recorded votes have not been violated,” Atamaint said.

Multiple candidates had denounced problems with the webpage and Gonzalez called on Sunday evening for a do-over of the foreign vote.

More than 82% of those required to vote did so, Atamaint added. Voting is mandatory for those between 18 and 65.

Gonzalez has promised to free up $2.5 billion from international reserves to bolster Ecuador’s economy and bring back million-dollar social initiatives implemented by Correa – who has since been convicted of corruption – during his decade in power.

Noboa seemingly gained support after performing well in the only televised debate of the campaign.

A lawmaker until current President Guillermo Lasso dissolved the national assembly and called early elections, Noboa has focused his campaign on job creation, tax incentives for new businesses and jail sentences for serious tax evasion.

Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/ecuadoreans-vote-new-president-election-marred-by-candidates-murder-2023-08-20/

Campaigning ends today for polls after big guns dazzle Karnataka

PM Narendra Modi during the roadshow in Bengaluru on Sunday. Credit: DH Photo/S K Dinesh

Campaigning for the May 10 Assembly polls ends on Monday after the major players — the BJP, Congress and the JD(S) — swamped the voters with a series of high-voltage rallies and roadshows.

The stakes are high as Karnataka polls will also set the tone for the 2024 general elections.

Arch-rivals BJP and Congress deployed their top guns for statewide campaigns, with both of them seeking a clear majority.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi ended his Karnataka campaign on Sunday after having addressed 18 public rallies and six road shows, which underscored the saffron party’s dependence on its star attraction to woo voters.

Modi’s slogan was “Ee baariya nirdhara, bahumatada BJP sarkara“ (The decision this time, majority BJP government).

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, BJP national president JP Nadda, Union ministers and other national leaders also campaigned in Karnataka.

The BJP’s campaign has largely revolved around the ‘double-engine’ government, development, reservation and national security.

The Congress had its president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi address 80 public meetings, road shows and interactions with specific groups in the run-up to the polls.

Kharge led by example by holding the largest number of 31 public meetings. Rahul, who campaigned for 10 days, crisscrossed the state attending 20 public meetings and one roadshow till Sunday evening while Priyanka held 25 public meetings.

Even Sonia Gandhi, who has kept away from election campaigns since 2019 owing to health reasons, addressed a rally in Karnataka.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/election/karnataka/campaigning-ends-today-for-polls-after-big-guns-dazzle-karnataka-1216731.html

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